[QUOTE=livngood]

My Humble Opinions:

[...] Discs are a sexy-looking way to get an Arai drum brake and perhaps up to 1.5 lbs of it's net weight contribution off of a tandem and to simplify braking on steep descents (i.e., eliminates third control). However, discs aren't drag brakes... so if a team really needs or wants a drag brake, a rear disc isn't a good choice as it precludes the installation of an Arai drum brake. [...]

Exactly right. I wish I had read and understood that before I bought my new tandem. I've found that with a team weight of 360 lbs, applying the brakes while dropping 500 feet quickly generates enough heat to melt the plastic parts of the mechanical Avid disc brakes that come on the 2004 Cannondale RT1000.